New twist in Curie High saga

Leader of council that fired principal is being investigated

The battle to save Curie Principal Jerrelyn Jones could turn on the outcome of investigations against the local school council member who led the effort to oust her.

Tom Ramos Jr., the Curie council chairman who acknowledged that he had a "combative" relationship with Jones, will be the focus of a public hearing expected in early April that will address, among other issues, whether he is eligible to serve on the council, Chicago Public Schools officials said.

Ramos also must respond to an allegation before an independent hearing officer that he solicited bribes from a school contractor, district officials said.

The Curie local school council voted 6-2 on Feb. 10 to terminate Jones, despite her popularity among students and success in boosting their test scores. The decision triggered high-profile support for Jones from Mayor Richard Daley and schools chief Arne Duncan.

The vote also sparked debate over whether the power of local councils should be checked and whether parents with little training are qualified to evaluate, hire and fire principals.

Ramos is accused of securing guardianship over his sister, now a sophomore at Curie, so he could run as a parent for the unpaid council seat last year.

Otis Davis, who voted to retain Jones, said school officials plan to present "convincing evidence" that Ramos is not his sister's guardian.

Ramos has said that his sister stays at both his home and his parents'. He said he had legal guardianship over his sister, which qualified him to serve on the council.

He also has been accused of soliciting two "commissions" from a school contractor who told district officials she gave Ramos $100 in cash and a check for $400 after she secured a $1,500 computer training contract at Curie.

Schools Inspector General James Sullivan confirmed that he launched the Ramos investigation a year ago. But it has taken on a new urgency with the controversy over Jones' ouster.

Jones' supporters say they are hoping that the removal of Ramos, who held sway over several board members, might change the dynamic on the council and lead to her reinstatement. A 25-year veteran of Curie, Jones was described as a "superstar" principal by Daley.

Another issue that has surfaced is whether Ramos refused to provide a translator during a Jan. 24 meeting when Jones outlined her qualifications and accomplishments to the council in anticipation of their vote on her contract.

Clarice Berry, president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association, said she hopes the translation problem will support Jones' contention that the decision to remove her was "arbitrary and capricious." The association is representing Jones in her appeal to an independent arbitrator, who will decide whether the council's decision should be overturned on those grounds.

During the January meeting, Jones offered to bring in a translator, but Ramos declined, Berry said.